It’s time to call out Spectrum for what it truly is: a shining example of unchecked corporate greed running rampant, unapologetically gouging its loyal customers. In just the past 12 months, Spectrum has raised its rates three times for internet customers. That’s right—if you’re a Spectrum customer, you’re now paying nearly $20 more per month than you were this time last year and a staggering $40 more than just a few years ago. And for what? Slower service? The same tired excuses? Spectrum’s reasoning? They’re losing customers!
Let’s break this down: Spectrum is losing customers because its rates are already too high, so their brilliant business strategy is to squeeze even more out of the customers who have no choice but to stay. It’s like setting a house on fire and then charging the residents extra rent to deal with the smoke damage. The logic is infuriatingly circular, and yet, somehow, this is what passes for “business as usual” in corporate America.
If you’re a Spectrum customer, you’ve likely already felt the pinch. For many, Spectrum is the only high-speed internet provider in their area. The lack of competition gives Spectrum carte blanche to hike prices whenever it pleases, with little fear of customers jumping ship because, well, where are you going to go? And that’s the crux of the problem. Spectrum doesn’t care about its customers because, in many cases, it doesn’t have to. It’s the textbook definition of a monopoly—minus the mustachioed board game mascot, though Spectrum executives might as well don top hats and monocles for how out-of-touch they are with the struggles of everyday people.
And let’s not pretend these price hikes are justifiable. Spectrum hasn’t improved its service. Speeds aren’t faster, customer service hasn’t magically become more efficient, and you’re still dealing with outages and throttling. What are customers paying for, exactly? According to Spectrum, it’s to offset the loss of revenue from customers who’ve canceled their service. Translation: Spectrum wants its loyal customers to foot the bill for its failure to retain subscribers. It’s a textbook case of punishing the wrong people.
This kind of corporate behavior is eerily reminiscent of the government’s worst traits: fail miserably, shift blame, and then make taxpayers—or in this case, customers—pay for it. And while many of us have become numb to rising costs in everything from groceries to gas, Spectrum’s blatant money grab feels particularly egregious. Internet isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s a necessity. Families rely on it for work, school, and staying connected. Spectrum knows this and exploits it shamelessly.
So here’s the question: When does it end? How much more can they milk from customers before people are completely priced out of basic internet service? The economy is already teetering under the weight of skyrocketing inflation, stagnant wages, and housing costs that are through the roof. Adding another $20—or $40—per month to already strained budgets isn’t just unreasonable; it’s unconscionable.
Spectrum, if you’re listening: Your greed is as mind-blowing as it is infuriating. It’s time for regulators to step in and stop this madness. The American economy cannot sustain this much corporate exploitation—not now, not ever.